Xerophyte

Central Spines

2-4(-6), erect or ascending, often slightly curved toward stem apex with bulbous base, whitish, often becoming dark with age, lower one turning downward, 15-20 mm long. Immature plants have only two central spines, one above the other, both 3 mm, resembling immature Coryphantha tuberculosaSN|10190]]SN|10190]] or Mammillaria pottsiiSN|9355]]SN|9355]].

Seeds

Black, subglobular, papillate, 1,6-2 mm broad.

Description

Echinomastus mariposensisSN|26084]]SN|26084]] is a small, rounded cactus with single stems commonly about the size of a golf ball, but may grow to about 10-15 cm tall, and 8 cm in diameter at maturity. The plant has a grayish appearance overall, and on closer inspection, delicate, brown-tipped central spines can be seen arising from the many-spined tubercules.

Tubercles

Narrowly pointed, to 5 mm long.

Flowers

Not particularly showy or large, clustered at the apex of stems, broadly funnelform, pink,2,2-2,5 cm long, 2-4 cm in diameter. Inner perianth segments pink to white with distinct greenish to reddish purple midribs, outer ones brown-tinged. Filaments colourless to pink. The stigmas lobes are green or yellow-green. Style pale-green.

Chromosome Number

2n = 22.

Spines

23-30 per areole, pale tan to grayish white, largest spines often tipped "chalky" or "dusty" blue-gray, blue-black or brown.

Ribs

Not evident, approx 21 strictly tuberculate.

Stem

Globose to egg-shaped, blue-green, (3-)6-10 cm high, (3-)4-6 cm in diameter, densely covered by spines.

Fruits

Light green or yellowish, hort oblong or globose about 12 mm long and 8 mm in diameter, formed beneath the apical spines, indehiscent or disintegrating irregularly and do not dry at maturity.

Blooming Season

It blooms in February and March and fruits ripen in April. Flowers open midday, close at night, and reopen on warm, sunny days for 3-4 days.

Radial Spines

(19-)23-26(-30), whitish, radiating horizontally, overlapping and pressed closely to the stem, (3-)4-6(-11) mm long, the upper and lateral the longest.

Areoles

6-12 mm apart along ribs; areolar glands absent.